Adult Volunteers

Adult Volunteers

Volunteers are utilized in various ways, depending on their interests, knowledge and abilities. Volunteers are a vital part of fulfilling the hospital’s mission of maximizing the potential of patients with complex medical needs and disabilities, as they provide valuable services that contribute to the care and comfort of patients and families.

The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital will provide all necessary training for volunteers who are accepted. No medical experience or knowledge is required. To work directly with patients, volunteers must be at least 17 years of age and meet the hourly service requirements for their specific assignment.

Volunteer positions include:

Patient Companion – Complex Care: Patients in Complex Care, ranging in age from birth to 20, receive medical, nursing and respiratory care, rehabilitative therapies and education. Volunteers serving as Patient Companions spend time with patients of all ages, with the goal of providing engaging activities, physical comfort, and joy. Volunteers are scheduled in shifts from 9:00-11:00, 2:00-4:00, 4:00-6:00 and 6:00-8:00, every day of the week. Volunteers in this role must be at least 17 years old and commit to serving one shift each week for six months.

Patient Companion – PMRU and Patient Bed Tower: Patient Companions in the Pediatric Medical Rehabilitation Unit (PMRU) and Patient Bed Tower provide entertainment and companionship to patients recovering from traumatic accidents or serious illnesses. Volunteers play board games or video games, facilitate small group activities, and read books to patients at bedside. Volunteers are scheduled in shifts from 4:00-6:00 and 6:00-8:00, Mondays through Fridays, and between 10:00-8:00 on weekends. Volunteers in this role must be at least 17 years old and commit to serving one shift each week for six months.

Play While You Wait: Aiming to transform the waiting room experience to a fun, anxiety-free environment, Play While You Wait volunteers provide engaging activities, such as crafts, games, and puzzles to patients and siblings in Outpatient Services. Volunteers are scheduled in shifts from 9:00-11:00, 1:00-3:00 and 3:00-4:30, Monday through Friday. An activity cart stocked with games, puzzles, crafts and books is provided. Volunteers in this role must be at least 17 years old and must commit to serving one shift each week for a 15-week period.

Special Education Classroom Volunteers: Volunteers assist in each of the Hospital’s six special education classrooms, assisting patients with language activities, music therapy sessions, craft projects and more. Classrooms are led by certified special education teachers who provide training and oversight to volunteers. Classes last one hour and occur between 9:00-12:00 and 2:00-4:00, Monday through Friday. Volunteers in this role must be at least 17 years old and must commit to serving one two-hour shift each week for a 15-week period.

Therapy Gym Volunteers: The therapy gym volunteer program is open to college students who are currently pursuing degrees in physical, occupational or speech therapy, music therapy or recreation therapy. Volunteers facilitate one-on-one or small group activities for patients as they await therapy sessions in the Hospital’s largest inpatient therapy gym, and sanitize and organize therapy equipment. Volunteers must first serve 20 hours in another area of the Hospital to be eligible for this program, and must commit to one two-hour shift for a 15-week period. Shifts are scheduled from 9:00-11:00 and 2:00-4:00, Monday through Friday.

Respiratory Therapy Volunteers: The Respiratory Therapy volunteer program is open to students currently enrolled in CoARC-accredited respiratory therapy programs. Volunteers assist Respiratory Therapy staff with equipment management, distribution, and storage. Volunteers must commit to serving one two-hour shift each week for a 15-week period. Shifts are scheduled based on the availability of volunteers, and the needs of Hospital staff.

Adult Volunteer Requirements

Volunteers must be at least 17 years of age, unless otherwise noted above, and willing to commit to the service requirements of their specific assignment. Volunteer Services will interview a select number of applicants each month, based on open positions. Selections are made by matching the interests and availability of volunteers with the current scheduling needs and volunteer opportunities. Prior to acceptance, background checks will be performed on all applicants. Volunteers are required to complete training and receive certain immunizations, including an annual flu shot. All requirements are provided by The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital at no cost to the volunteer.

To protect the health and safety of patients during RSV and Flu season, we will not process volunteer applications from November 16th through January 31st. Applications will still be accepted during this time, but will not be processed until early 2019.

Student Volunteer Requirements

Volunteer Services will consider applications from students seeking to complete a service learning project or field study, so long as: the student is not required to observe or be supervised by a specific discipline, and the class requires 25 hours of service or more. Paperwork or evaluations that are required for the class will not be signed by Volunteer Services staff until the volunteer has completed 25 hours of service. Interested applicants must complete an on-site interview and submit to a background check. Volunteers are required to complete training and receive certain immunizations, including an annual flu shot. All requirements are provided by The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital at no cost to the volunteer.

Students interested in completing a service learning project for the 2019 Spring semester must submit an application no later than February 22.